The 650hp Indy Racing League single-seater race car that Kiwi star Scott Dixon drove to victory in this year’s Indy 500 may be the star attraction at this year’s GT Radial Speedshow, but with race cars of every description set to fill Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds in September, the event can easily be called New Zealand’s biggest celebration of motorsport. Whether you’re a fan of circuit racing, speedway, off-roaders, hot rods, classics, drifters or dragsters, you’re virtually guaranteed there’s a race car you’ll love at Speedshow, says organiser Keith Sharp. “Along with Scott’s bright-red Honda-powered Indy car, we’re delighted to have the Ferrari F1 car that Shell bought into New Zealand as part of their Shell V-Power fuel launch,” enthuses Sharp. “Where else in New Zealand could you see two modern race cars quite like these?” For those into sheer horsepower, Sharp recommends getting along to the Western Springs Speedway stand where the Marley’s-backed #1NZ sprint car of national sprint car champion Carl Wilson is on show. Springs’ promoter Dave Stewart also showcases the Spike Esslinger car of five-time New Zealand midget champ Michael Kendall and the brand new, never-raced car that Salter Motorsports chief Ron Salter has built for US World of Outlaws star Craig Dollansky. “Kids can pick up their free season pass and lanyard at the Western Springs stand, while their parents enter the draw to win a table for eight worth $2025 in our VIP facility on opening night on 1 November,” adds Stewart. Two-time New Zealand V8 champion John McIntyre launches his brand-new Ford V8, complete with new sponsorship. Known as “Johnny Mac”, the popular racer says fans will see a completely new look Ford contesting the seven rounds of the New Zealand V8 Championship which starts in Taupo on 4 October. “We’ve kept the same distinctive green, white and blue colour scheme which looks great with our new sponsors’ logos,” adds McIntyre. Full details on the new season of New Zealand V8 racing will be available for fans and other top circuit racing series, the Porsche GT3 Cup Championship and the Toyota Racing Series, also showcase the cars and drivers that make their racing so fantastic to watch. MotorSport New Zealand and their affiliated event promotion company, The MotorSport Company, will both have a presence at Speedshow, offering details about how to get into motorsport around the country. Drag racing enthusiasts can check the first car to run 200 mph in New Zealand, the top alcohol dragster of Price Motorsport, which is also the first of its kind – having a small block Chevrolet engine – to complete the quarter mile in under seven seconds. Having attempted a land-speed record on the infamous Bonneville Salt Flats in 2007 and 2008, Alan Thoresen and his Black Thunder Racing team will showcase their Kawasaki ZX-14 “Black Thunder” motorbike at Speedshow. Last year Thoresen came within a few miles an hour of the record they were chasing, when, at around 180 mph, debris under the rear wheel caused it to slide out. Rallying is represented by the completely unique Audi Quattro replica that’s been built by long-time top rally driver Andrew Hawkeswood. “Many of our exhibitors have drivers signing autographs on their stand at various times throughout the weekend, including Paul Radisich who will be at the Tech Books stand to sign copies of the new biography written about Paul by author Sandy Myhre called ‘The Rat: The Paul Radisich Story’,” says Sharp  “Don’t forget the GT Radial Speedshow also features what we believe will be the biggest-ever race car simulator zone ever seen at a show in New Zealand, the incredible paintings of motorsport artist Don Packwood, the Ezybuy Car Auctions Live Action Arena, and of course, many top-class suppliers of all kinds of motorsport-related apparel, race suits, helmets, performance technology and parts,” says Sharp. “And there are some truly fantastic competitions to enter like Team Kiwi Racing’s current prize draw where you could win an all-expenses paid trip with the team to Bathurst, Indy 300 or the Bahrain V8 Supercar event.” The GT Radial Speedshow takes place at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland’s Greenlane on Saturday 20 September and Sunday 21 September, 2008.